Wallace 'Wally' R. Parker

Friday, December 26, 2008

Wallace "Wally" R. Parker, 87, passed away Monday, Dec. 22, 2008 at the Putnam County Hospital following two bouts with cancer in recent years.

Wally was born Feb. 3, 1921, in Morgan County.

He was the son of Vern and Nettie Parker.

He grew up in a farming family south of Stilesville and attended grade school and high school in Belle Union where he graduated in 1938. He then attended Purdue University where he graduated with honors as a chemical engineer in 1942.

He served in the army in 1945 and 1946 and spent most of his adult life in a career of farming and farming related businesses in Morgan, Putnam and Boone counties.

Wally was an enthusiastic card player including bridge and he enjoyed golf. He was also a member of the Elks, Moose, Eagles and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Survivors include two sisters, Virginia Hughes of Carmel and Norma Seller of Crown Point.

Preceding him in death were his parents and his brother, George Parker.

Survivors also include three daughters and two sons. The daughters are Marty Watts and her husband, Max, of Greencastle, Beth Kaplanek and her husband, Chuck, of Long Island, N.Y., and Candace Sigmon and her husband, Greg, of Vevay. The sons are Steve Parker and his wife, Patty, of Orland Park, Ill., and Brent Parker of Naples, Fla.

Additional survivors include 10 grandsons, Shaun Watts of Indianapolis, Chris, Carey and Cory Kaplanek of Long Island, Kyle, David and Benjamin Parker of Orland Park, and Colby, Drew and Austin Parker of Naples.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 29 at the Bittles & Hurt Funeral Home with Pastor Jim Staggers officiating. Burial will follow with honors at Forest Hill Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec 28.

Memorials may be made in his name to the American Cancer Society. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family c/o inbth@keystonegroup.com.